Valve for fire extinguisher systems



C D. ALLAN.

VALVE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEMS.

APILICATION FILED AUG.23| 1915s sHEETs-SHLEI' i" Patentel Nov. 28

C. D. ALLAN.

VALVE FOR FIRE EXTENGUISHER SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG 23, 1915.

mum Nov. 28, 1922.

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% Ammw Patented Nov. 28, 1922,

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arisen CHARLES D. ALLAN, OF CHMYAGO, ILLINOIS, .lSSIGIl'OB TO ALFRED L. FIRII'ZSCHE, CLEVELAND, OHIO.

VALVE FOB, FIRE EXTINGUISHER SYSTEMS.

Application filed August 23, 1915. fierial No. 46,956.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

lie it known thatl, CTLHHJIS l), IUJAN, a citizen oi. the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of (look and tri' 'te of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Fire Ext nguishers, of which the following specification. l

This invention relates t fire extinguishers and particularly to valves for automatic sprinkler systems of the general type known as air valves or dry-pipe valves. One f rm of dry-pipe valve which has been use-fl to a very large extent, is what is known as a differential. valve, in which a relatively small water admission opening is closed by a valve which is secured in closed position against a relatively high water pressure in the main or other source of supply of water under pressure, by a relatively large air valve which is exposed to an unbalanced, relatively low air pressure in the sprinkler system. As heretofore construct ed, v able for the reason that, when the valve opens and water is admitted to the sprinlrler system such watet'will a water column, the pressure of which acting on the relatively large air valve, with the weight oi the valves will, under certain conditions, cause said valves to become reseated and will prevent reopening thereof until the system has been drained.

This is known as coluinning and is such a serious objection that it has been found necessary to provide supplementary mechanl means "for its prevention, and various devices For this purpose have been. designed and patented, but have met with only indifferent success.

The primary object oi? the present invention is to provide a construction for a dry-pipe valve of the differential type whereby columning will be prevented without resort to mechanical means to pre vent resenting of the air valve.

l urther objects of the inventionare to provide a dry-pipe valve which will be simple inconstruction, cheap to manufacture as com-pared with any dry-pipe valve of which I have any present knowledge; and which will be effective and reliable for HTS designed purpose.

To eilect the foregoing objects, a drypipe valve of "my nvention comprises the lies oi this type have been objection movable side position in full lines and in open position in dotted lines. Y Figure 2 is a sectional, plan view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 32 of Fig. 1.; and

Figure 4 is a central, horlzontal sectional view of a dry-pipe valve embodylng my in vention in somewhat modified term, snowing the lower part of said valve,

Referring now particularly to Figs 1 to 3 of the drawings, Aidesignates the valve which for convenience and economy of manufacture and torender the parts enclosed therein easily accessible, consists of a main section or bodyportion A, one side of which is closed by a removable side wall I A secured to said body portion by cap screws or other suitable means, and formed on which is what may properly be designated a bonnet a. The position of the re- A relative to the body portion A is accurately defined by dowel pins a For reasons presently apparent, the closed side o l the valve casin A opposite to the remova-lz-le side A thereof, comprises a central, substantially circular, off-set portion A, which forms a corresponding recess on the inside of said. casing.

The valve casing A is provided with a water admission opening 1 which is adapteo to be connected to a water main or other source of supply of water under pressure. As shown, said water admission opening opens laterally through the oil-set portion A 01 theclosed side of the valve casing A and. is substantially concentric therewith and also with the bonnet aformed on the removable side A of said valve casing. At its upper end, said valve casing is provlded with a discharge opening 2 which is adapted J to be connected with a sprinkler system.

Surrounding the water admission opening 1 within the valve casing is a valve seat 3 co operating with which is a valve 4 provided. with a surface 5 conforming to the valve seat 3. A tight joint between the valve seat 3 and surface can be formed by grinding the same together with emery flour or the like, in a familiar manner. In the preferable construction shown, the valvev seat 3 is formed at the end of what may be termed a nipple 6, which forms a tubular extension of the water admission opening 1 laterally into the recess in the-casing A formed by the offset portion A of said casing. Preferably, also, said nipple 6 is made separate from the valve casing A and is detachably connected thereto by cap screws or the like, thus making provision for finishing said nipples ('3 and grinding the valve seats to a fit before they are placed into the casing A, and also for detaching and removing said nipples in case it becomes necessary, at any time, to regrind said valve seat 3 and surface In order to'centralize the surface 5 relative to the valve seat 3 when the valve 1- is subjected to pressure, as presently described, the valve seats 3 and 5 are correspondingly inclined or beveled, forming what may be described as the curved surfaces of trustums of cones.

In operation, the valve 4: is adapted to be maintained closed against the force of the water pressure in the main or other source of water supply by means of an air valve 7 which, in use, is subjected to an air pressure in the sprinkler system and is adapted to exert pressure upon the valve 4 when in closed position, the sizes of said air and water valves being such, respectively, that a relatively very low air pressure in the nlrler system, operating on tl as air valve, will maintain the water valve closed against the relatively high water pressure in the water main or other source of water supply sustained by the valve l, all in a familiar manner.

Secured to the air valve 7 so as to form a tight oint therewith a flat ring 8 of suitable flexible material, as rubber, leather, or

the like, which projects outwardly'beyond the edge at the air valve 7 and over a valve seat 9 on the valve casing at the mouth of the rec ss "formed by the offset portion of thevalve casing. [is shown, the valve seat 9 is formed on a ring 10 secured in the mouth of said recess. In operation the rubber ring 8 is adapted to be held in close, airtight contact with the valve seat 9 by the air pressu re in the sprinkler system.

With the described construction, it is obvious that the air valve 7, when closed, will divide the interior of the casing in into a compartment A which is in open communication with the sprinkl r system. and a cornpartment A with which the admission opening '1 communicates directlyl 'To prevent corrosion of the valve seats 3 mm, :the valve 4 and nipple .6 are prefers towards and from their respective seats in the following manner :Said valves are cured to the end of a valve stem ii i .ch has a b 'ing in sleeve 12 supported by a spider 1 secured in the mouth of the bonnet a, and which is freely movable endwise therein, the valve stem bearin in the sleeve being in axial alignment 1th the water admission 0 Jening l and extending substantially horizontally, or at such inclination to the horizontal that said valves will not become reseated by gravity. lVith the described construction, it is obvious that, in the opera 'on or the valve, a rurrentof water entering the valve casing 4 through the water admission opening 1 will move both the water valve 4- and air valve into open position. indicated in dotted lines in 1, in whichposition they will remain l again reseated manually, That is, water entering said admission opening 1 will more both the water valve 4: and the air valve 7 into stable open position.

vl hen said valves are in closed position, .e valve stem ll should not touch the sides v.5 the l i in the sleev 12, as such contact might n erit'ere with perfect contact of the valve seats 3 and 5 of the water valve,

and, by corrosion of said valve stem or of its be ri g. interfe e with the designed operation oi said valves. To prevent su h contact oi" the valve stem ll with its bearii said valve stem sli l'itly tapered.

us tapered at its M- is formed in the outer BIlClOl the bonnet I a in axial alignment withthe water admission opening l and the valve stem bearing in the sleeve said hole being of sutlicient Ze to permit a rod or the like be inserted t rough i 5 into contact with the ve stem 11 by means o't enter one at the val which said valves may bepushed to their seats or, by making the hole 14: sutliciently large, said valves may be rescaled by hand. The hole 14- is adapted. to be closed by means or a removable plug 15, the inner end of which terminates short of tie endof the valve stem 11. when the valves 4 and 'Z are in open position, and is preferably rounded to prevent a rod or bar from being secured between the end of said valve stem, when the valves are in closed position, and the inner end 0t said plug, thereby locking said valves in closed position.

Due to the taper oi the valve stem ll, the valves 4- and 7 will somewhat out oi line with their seats on the nipple 6 and the ring 8. 'When, however, the air pressure is turned on to the sprinkler system, the pressure exerted thereby on the air valve 7, cting on the inclined valve seats 3 and 5 on the nipple 6 and valve 4:, respectively, will operate, in an obvious manner, to perfectly centralize the inclined valve seats 3 and 5. lVhen said valves are in closed position, and the system is under air pressure, said valves 4 and 7 will he supported independently or the valve stem 11. Also, said valve stem, being rigidly secured in said valve structure,will, in turn, be supported thereby independently of and concentric with its bearing in the sleeve 12, whereby, due to the taper ot said valve stem. it will not contact with its hearing at any point, in the manner desired.

Instead of forming the air and water valves integral with each other, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and heretofore described, my invention contemplates forming said valves separate from each other, and movably securing said water valve to a rigid part of the valve casing or a support rigidly attached thereto, said water valve being preferably pivoted to said valve casing or support, whereby water under pressure entering the valve casing through the water admission opening, will move said water valve into stable open position. Excepting for the proposed change in the water valve and the manner of supporting, and operating the same and for certain slight changes of construction incident thereto, a valve embodying my invention in said modified form will be in all respects similar in construction and method of operation to the preferred form of valve shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and will be readily understood by persons familiar with this art from the drawings, particularly in view ot the foregoing description of the preferred form of valve shown in Figs. 1 to A. valve of my invention embodying the foregoing modification is shown in Fig. lot the drawings and will now be described.

l n said modification the water valve, designated 4 ishinged to the nipple 6 by means of a yoke 16, bolted or otherwise detachably connected to said valve at. corresponding bosses being formed on said nipple and yoke which are provided with aligned hearings to receive the hinge pin 17. and the bearing in one thereof being fitted loosely to provide for limited play otsaid valve 4: to permit the bearing surface 5 thereon to seat itself accurately upon the valve seat 3.

With the described construction, it is obvious, that, by disconnecting the l from the valve l, said valve will be turn on its longitudinal axis, thus providing for conveniently grinding the valve seats 3" and5 together.

in the preferable construction sl'iown the hinge pin l? extends substantially vertical so that water under pressure entering the admission opening fl. valve to one side out of the current of water under pressure entering the casing through the water adniis on opening 1, in which position it will obviously rem until again seated by hand. I do not do. however, to limit myself? to this particular manner of pivoting the valve 4, as my in vention contemplates varying the position of the hinge pin 17 from the vertical, the only limitation being that said valve shall be maintained in stable open position by gravity.

In operation,the valve 4 is adapted to he maintained closed against the water preswhich is adapted to bear upon the apex of the valve 4 when in closed position, said water valve being so shaped that when the air valve 7 is moved a sufficient distance to perm it the apex of said waterlvalve to pass out of, engagement therewith, all other parts ot said water valve will swing clear of said air valve.

When said modified form of dry-pipe valve is set for operation, the valve 4: and the air valve 7" will be in the positions shown in full lines, Fig. 4, in which position they will be maintained by the airpressure in thesprinkler system. When, however, one oi the sprinklers ot the sprinkler system opens. thus venting said sprinkler s stem. the water pressure on the valve 41 will opei ate to move both said Water valve 4: and the air valve 7 into open position. shown in dottedlines in Fig, 4C, in which positions both of said valves will be nniintained by gravity entirely out of the watei way and in stable open positions so that accidental reseating thereof will be absolutely impossible, and said valves can only be reset or reseated by hand. 1

Like the preferred form of the valve for the reason that said t shows only. the lower part of the valve. In practice, i

however, any mechanic of ordinary skill in this art can readily supply said water discharge opening, particularly in view of the disclosure of Figs. 1 and 2 anrl.theportions of the specification descriptive thereof.

will move the water its In use, my improved valve will be pro-- vided with suitable drain connections, alarm devices and the like, these, however, can readily be supplied, by any person familiar with the construction and oper ation of such devices and need not, thercfore, be described in detail and for that rea son will not be shown in the drawings.

I claim 1. In a dry-pipe valve. the combination of a valve casing provided with water admission and discharge openings, a valve adapted for closing said water admission opening, an air valve adapted for dividing the interior of said valve easing into separate compartments and for maintaining the water valve closed, and means for supporting and guiding said water and air valves, the relation being such that water under pressure entering said valve casing through the water admission opening will move said air and water valves into stable open position, the means for supporting and guiding said air valve comprising a valve stem secured to said air valve and a sleeve within the valve casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, said valve stem and its bearing extending in such relation to the horizontal that when open said valve will not reseat by gravity, substantially as described.

2. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination of a valve casing provided with water admission and discharge openings, a valve adapted for closing said water admission opening, an air valve adapted for dividing theinterior of said valve easing into separate compartments and for maintaining the water valve closed, said water and air valves torininga unitary structure, and means for movably supporting and guiding said valves compris ing a valve stem secured thereto and a sleeve within the casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, said valve stem and its bearing extending in such relation to the horizontal that when open said valves will not reseat by gravity substantially as described.

3. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination of a valve casing provided with water admission and discharge openings, a valve adapted for closing said water admission opening, an air valve adapted for dividing theinterior of said valve easing into separate compartments and for maintaining the water valve closed, said water and air valves forming a unitary structure, and means for movably supporting and guiding said valves comprising a valve stem secured. thereto and sleeve within the casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, said valve stem and its bearing extending in such relation to the horizontal that when open said valves will not reseat by gravity, and the seat for said wateinvalve being beveled, substantially as described.

l. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination of a valve casing provided with water admission and discharge openings, a valve adapted for closing said water admission opening, an air valve adapted for dividing the interior of said valve casing into separate compartments and for maintaining the water valve closed, said water and air valves forming a unitary structure, and means for movably supporting and guiding said valves comprising a valve stem secured thereto and a sleeve within the casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, said valve stem and its bearing extending in such relation to the horizontal that when open said valves will not reseat by gravity, said valve stem being smaller than its bearing and the seat for said water valve being beveled, substantially as described.

5. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination of a valve casing provided with water admission and discharge openings, a valve adapted for closing said water admission opening, an air valve adapted "for dividing the interior of said valve casing into separate compartments and for maintaining the water valve closed, said water and air valves forming a unitary structure, and means for movably supporting and guiding said valves comprising a valve stem secured thereto and a sleeve within the casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, said valve stem and its bearing extending in such relation to the horizontal that when open said valves will not reseat by gravity, said valve stem being smaller than itsbearing and being slightly tapered, and the seat for said water valve being tapered, substantially as described.

6. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination of a valve easing provided with water admission and discharge openings, a valve adapted for closing said water admission opening, an air valve adapted for dividing the interior of said valve casing into separate compartments and for maintaining the water valve closed, and. means for movably supporting and guiding said water and air valves, the relation being such that water under pressure entering said valve casing through the water admission opening will move said valves into stable open position. the means for supporting and guiding said air valve comprising a valve stem secured to said air valve and a sleeve within the valve casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, the axes of said valve stem and its bearing being substantially horizontal, substantially as described.

7. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination. of a valve casing provided with water admission and discharge openings, a valve adapted for closing said water admission opening, an air valve adapted for dividing the interior of said valve easing into separate o X I incense 5F,

compartments and for maintaining the water valve closed, said Water and air valves forming a unitary structure, and means for movably supporting and guiding said valves comprising a valve stem secured thereto and a sleeve Within the casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, the axes of said valve stem and its bearing being substantially horizontal, substantially as described.

8. In a dry-pipe valve, the combination oi a valve casing provided with admission and discharge openings, a valve adapted for closing said Water admission openin an air valve adapted 'for dividing the interior of said valve cae'ng into separate compartments and for maintaining the Water valve closed, said water and air valves formin a unitary structure, and means for movabiy supporting and guiding said valves comprising a valve stem secured thereto and sleeve Within the casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, valve stem and its bearing extending in such relation to the horizontal that said valves will not re seat by gravity, said valve being smaller than its bearing and the seat for said Water valve being beveled and the seats for said Water and air valves being substantially in the same plane at right angles to the axis of the valve stem bearing, whereby adjustment of said vvater valve to its seat will impart a minimum lateral throw to the air valve and the valve stem, substantially as described.

9. In a dry-pipe valve,'the combination of a valve casing provided in one of its-sides with a Water admission opening and theopposite side of which is removable and comprises a bonnet portion in alignment with said admission opening, said valve casing also being provided with a discharge opening, a valve adapted for closing said Water admission opening, an air valve adapted for dividing the interior of said valve easing into separate compartments and for maintaining the Water valve closed, and means for movably supporting and guiding said Water and air valves, the relation being such that Water under pressure entering said valve casing through the Water admission opening Will move said Water and air valves into stable open position, the means for supporting and guiding said air valve comprising a valve stem secured to said air valve and a sleeve supported in the mouth of the bonnet portion of the removable side 01" said casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, said valve stem and its bearing extending in such relation to the horizontal that when open said valve Will not reseat by gravity, substantially as described.

10. In a dry-pipe valve,the combination of a valve casing provided in one of its sides with a water admission opening and the opposite side of which is removable and comprises a bonnet portion in alignment with said admission opening, said valve casing also being provided with a discharge opening, a valve adapted for closing said Water admission opening, an air valve adapted for dividing the interior of said valve easing into separate eon'ipartments and for maintaining the water valve closed, and means for movably supporting and guiding said Water and air valves, the relation being such that water under pressure entering said valve casing through the Water admission opening will move said Water and air valves into stable open position, the means for supporting and guiding said air valve comprising a valve stem secured to said air valve and a sleeve supported in the mouth of the bonnet portion oil? the removable side of said casing provided with a bearing for said valve stem, said valve stem and its bearing extending in such relation to the horizontal that When open said valve Will not reseat by gravity, the bonnet portion oi the removable side of said valve casing being provided With an opening in its outer end through which the end of the valve stem will beaccessible and may be subjected to pressure to force the air valve to its seat, and a removable plug for closing said opening, substantially as described.

in testimony thatl claim the foregoing as my invention, Iailix m signature in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses this 20th day oi August, 1915.

CHARLES D. ALLAN.

Witnesses:

F. M. REIGHEL, ALEX. D. KING, Jr. 

